Compare towns
Burnham vs Penobscot vs Troy
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Burnham has the most affordable homes ($178k median).
Penobscot has the most expensive homes ($296k median).
Troy has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.2%).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Burnham | Penobscot | Troy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 953Lowest |
1,154Highest |
984 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.8% ME: +2.6% |
-10.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-1.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 48.4±3.2Lowest 8% above ME |
53.4±5.7Highest 19% above ME |
49.3±13.6 10% above ME |
| Penobscot and Troy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.8%±4.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
18%±6 ME: 18.1% |
20.7%±7Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Troy and Penobscot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.2%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
32%±4.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
27%±4.6 ME: 22.4% |
| Penobscot and Troy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
32.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
21.7% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±2.2 ME: 5.8% |
1%±0.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.5%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Troy and Burnham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $59,261±$18k 21% below ME |
$63,194±$14kHighest 15% below ME |
$44,583±$14kLowest 40% below ME |
| Penobscot and Burnham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $178,100±$43kLowest 40% below ME |
$296,400±$58kHighest about the ME average |
$213,000±$31k 28% below ME |
| Penobscot and Troy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,308±$386Highest 15% above ME |
$1,141±$33Lowest about the ME average |
$1,255±$211 10% above ME |
| Burnham and Troy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,897Highest 38% below ME |
$1,852 39% below ME |
$1,752Lowest 42% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.9%±49 ME: 48.4% |
73.9%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
53.2%±44.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Penobscot and Burnham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 13.6%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
16% ME: 10.7% |
17.8%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.8%Highest ME: 74.3% |
84.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
86.4% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 13% below ME |
25 min about the ME average |
50 minHighest 102% above ME |
| Work from home | 17%±10.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
17.7%±13.5 ME: 15.9% |
25.3%±8.3Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Troy and Penobscot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Penobscot Public Schools | RSU 03/MSAD 03 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
ME average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.